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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodists together |
July/August 2006 |
Griffith plans to continue mission work in second retirement
By Daniel R. Gangler
INDIANAPOLIS - For the second time in as many years, the Rev. Dr. Donald Griffith, interim executive assistant to the bishop, has retired.
Griffith, 71, was asked by Bishop Woodie White to take the position the year before he retired as Bishop of the Indiana Area to help the incoming bishop through his transition to Indiana. When Bishop Mike Coyner came into office, he asked Griffith to stay on until he could reevaluate the role and tasks of the executive assistant. Griffith ended is tenure on June 30.
After he had stripped his office clean of his belongings, pictures and books, Griffith sat down with Together to review his past two years.
"It's been good and fulfilling," he began. He said he enjoyed his service to the Indiana Area. He found the time a good use of his time and energy as well as an eye-opener, looking at things differently (from this viewpoint) than a pastor observes them.
Griffith said he has never experienced how heavy a schedule and how much pressure that is on a bishop. "The demands are constant on his time and the problems he wrestles with. As soon as one is gone, another on pops up."
He said he also learned about the nature of ministry in both the North and South Indiana conferences and learned that lay and clergy leadership is vibrant.
If he could do one thing differently, Griffith said he would have liked to begin this position ten years sooner. "It's taken two years to get into it," he said.
Advice to Owen
He also gave the following advice to the Rev. David V.W. Owen, who began his duties as the new executive assistant to the bishop on July 1.
"Protect the bishop's schedule and insist that the bishop reserve time for Marsha (Mrs. Coyner) and himself," he advised. "Be an affirming influence for staff, laity and clergy. Model gratitude and say 'thank you' every time you can."
Griffith said he believed advice empowers people in ministry. Of Owen, he also said, "he is young enough and has enough time to look out for younger leaders to be nourished and trained."
With Bishop White, Griffith said his most meaningful experience was grieving with him during his last annual conference before retirement.
With Bishop Coyner, he said there have been so many meaningful experiences. The most meaningful has been "to sense his compassion for the church and wanting the church to make a difference in Indiana. I have seen how unflappable he is. He is calm and collected and willing to go even with the way things go and deal with it," he said.
"I will miss the staff - a great bunch of people, and I will miss being with special people in both conferences who have been so gracious to Marilyn (Mrs. Griffith) and me," he said. He also said he won't miss getting up at a quarter to six every morning and hitting that traffic.
What's next for Griffith?
This summer the Griffiths plan to attend the World Methodist Conference in Seoul, South Korea and tour China for ten days after the conference. They will come home in time to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Aug. 26 then pack for a volunteer in mission trip to Haiti in September. They also plan to join a mission team to Liberia and Sierra Leone in January.
Griffith plans to avail himself when needed by churches in developing stewardship and for mission interpretation.
Last updated on 25 Apr 2008